Motorists: Different levels of retardedness

[Wannabe]

Yes, when someone gets on his soapbox and dumps a ton of bull excrement all over the place as fact and then tells me to do my own research looking for said bull excrement I do sort of get obsessed with the facts.

 

As I stated a few posts back, a law stating a safe passing distance without the distance specified means a driver can claim 1cm is safe.

 

I really don't need to go look for the relevant clauses you ask me to go look for myself as I am very familiar with the deficiencies in the relevant statutes as they relate to the safety of cyclists on public roads in SA. 

 

It is clear that Dirkitect has absolutely no idea as to whom he is taking on here.

As our old saying goes, "don't feed the Troll"  (jeesh, long time since I had to use that phrase  )

[carbon29er]

The reality is that as cyclists we don't actually know the laws as they affect our safety.  It's little wonder that motorists, particularly those who abuse cyclists or endanger them, have no interest or knowledge of other road users rights and the laws as they apply to them.

 

I can't tell you how often I've heard otherwise intelligent people argue about where cyclists can and can't ride on the road.  I'd say about 90% of the driving population would claim motor vehicles have the right of the roadway in 100% of the times they come across a cyclist on "their" road.

[V12man]

The reality is that as cyclists we don't actually know the laws as they affect our safety.  It's little wonder that motorists, particularly those who abuse cyclists or endanger them, have no interest or knowledge of other road users rights and the laws as they apply to them.

 

I can't tell you how often I've heard otherwise intelligent people argue about where cyclists can and can't ride on the road.  I'd say about 90% of the driving population would claim motor vehicles have the right of the roadway in 100% of the times they come across a cyclist on "their" road.

They can try that when I am around..... won't last long before I lose my sense of humour....

 

Still - yesterday I had a hill repeat session - in 10 repeats I had 3 people not stop at stop streets to enter the road just in front of me.... all got a talking to.... and the one young women told me she did stop.... and then I noticed she had a loose kid in the back, age about 4..... think she is still looking for her keys....

[lechatnoir]

karma

 

https://boingboing.net/2016/12/01/another-motorcyclist-exacts-re.html

[carbon29er]

karma

 

https://boingboing.net/2016/12/01/another-motorcyclist-exacts-re.html

Classic. Loved the phone toss.

[Icycling]

karma

 

https://boingboing.net/2016/12/01/another-motorcyclist-exacts-re.html

Smokers the worst type out there!! Hope no fires are started this year (in the Cape area) due to this motorist and tossing their "stompies" out car windows.

[Halfdoesyn]

karma

 

https://boingboing.net/2016/12/01/another-motorcyclist-exacts-re.html

That is so good it almost looks staged!

[cfcjim]

Smokers the worst type out there!! Hope no fires are started this year (in the Cape area) due to this motorist and tossing their "stompies" out car windows.

021 424 7715 That's the report (those ****heads) number.

[Dirkitech]

As I stated a few posts back, a law stating a safe passing distance without the distance specified means a driver can claim 1cm is safe.

the driver can argue and will lose because of this.

seems like the safety distance is open to interpretation then where gauteng is concerned? You can interpret it any way you want were some places in europe has 1.5m passing by laws and here you are allowed to transport goods that protrude at most 0.45m on either side of your bicycle.

you will always be able to win by claiming the maximum load protrusion on a bicycle and you can claim the drag from the vehicles speed affected your control over the bicycle. for someone who deems themselves as high and mighty youre utterly ignorant. why dont you stop crying there isn't a specific number to suit your ocd and apply to have it added to the road rules?

[Sparky and the Warden]

Anyone who rides a roadie or even a mtb on the road either has a death wish or has balls of steel, I saw a youngster on a motorcycle get taken out by a truck in Stellenbosch.... (seriously gruesome and sad site) but having seen that and many other accidents just around the Stellenbosch/Helderberg basin involving bicycles and motorcycles I will never put two wheels on tar, you could have the brightest neon clothing with flashing lights and all but that helps nothing when the lady using her rear view mirror to put on her makeup or some dude is on his phone texting/updating his FB.... people think we're crazy for racing gravity/DH well at least the only outside forces we have to contend with is wind, trees, snakes...and every now and then running out of talent...

 

Enjoy whatever you ride and stay safe!

[marko35s]

the driver can argue and will lose because of this.

you will always be able to win by claiming the maximum load protrusion on a bicycle and you can claim the drag from the vehicles speed affected your control over the bicycle. for someone who deems themselves as high and mighty youre utterly ignorant. why dont you stop crying there isn't a specific number to suit your ocd and apply to have it added to the road rules?

Jeez.

He was correct, let it go and move on.

[carbon29er]

the driver can argue and will lose because of this.

you will always be able to win by claiming the maximum load protrusion on a bicycle and you can claim the drag from the vehicles speed affected your control over the bicycle. for someone who deems themselves as high and mighty youre utterly ignorant. why dont you stop crying there isn't a specific number to suit your ocd and apply to have it added to the road rules?

The problem with the law as in stand is the cyclist has to prove the motorist was wrong.

 

In countries with a liability law, the motorist has to prove that they were not wrong, ie not negligent. It's a lot hard to prove guilt than it is to prove you are not guilty. With the result that countries that have a liability law have far fewer cycling deaths than those that don't have them.

 

EDIT: No cyclist has won a case against a motorist of dangerous driving for passing too close nationally.  It is impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

[carbon29er]

the driver can argue and will lose because of this.

you will always be able to win by claiming the maximum load protrusion on a bicycle and you can claim the drag from the vehicles speed affected your control over the bicycle. for someone who deems themselves as high and mighty youre utterly ignorant. why dont you stop crying there isn't a specific number to suit your ocd and apply to have it added to the road rules?

This comment is actually very offensive and disrespectful to, not only me but, all those who are involved in cycle safety who are doing EXACTLY what you suggest I do and are lobbying for changes to the act to give cyclists more specified space. Only because the law is inadequate as it stands.

 

I suggest you grow up a little, be a man and accept you are clueless in this area and then go find another area to comment where your ignorance cannot be proven by facts and laws.

[porqui]

i havent read the cape by laws but i have read gauteng by laws and the 1m rule applies

 

Or not! Simple - it is only legal if it has been promulgated.

 

1m and a "safe" distance are two different things according to the law that is why the WC gov. implemented the 1m bylaw because the definition of a safe distance is variable and 1m is a very precise measure and on top of it it has to be a safe 1m. The bylaw also states that a motorist (you) may cross the solid white line so as to leave a 1m space as long as it is safe to do so. In Gauteng it is only a safe distance and the rest of the country too.

 

It is simple - LOBBY your provincial government to implement a 1m bylaw.

If you do then apply for 1.5m as we only got 1m of the 1.5m.

Many countries in the world have a 1.5m distance law

 

Btw go to the gov site and read the Nat. Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 - very interesting read.

Good to know some of the aspects of the Act.

[NotSoBigBen]

This comment is actually very offensive and disrespectful to, not only me but, all those who are involved in cycle safety who are doing EXACTLY what you suggest I do and are lobbying for changes to the act to give cyclists more specified space. Only because the law is inadequate as it stands.

 

I suggest you grow up a little, be a man and accept you are clueless in this area and then go find another area to comment where your ignorance cannot be proven by facts and laws.

 

On point mate!

[Robbie Stewart]

Anyone who rides a roadie or even a mtb on the road either has a death wish or has balls of steel, I saw a youngster on a motorcycle get taken out by a truck in Stellenbosch.... (seriously gruesome and sad site) but having seen that and many other accidents just around the Stellenbosch/Helderberg basin involving bicycles and motorcycles I will never put two wheels on tar, you could have the brightest neon clothing with flashing lights and all but that helps nothing when the lady using her rear view mirror to put on her makeup or some dude is on his phone texting/updating his FB.... people think we're crazy for racing gravity/DH well at least the only outside forces we have to contend with is wind, trees, snakes...and every now and then running out of talent...

 

Enjoy whatever you ride and stay safe!

 

Running out of talent...(been there, done that)

 

And yes, I have seen too many accidents / incidents involving motorbikes, to think twice about riding tar (which I still do, but only on select few routes). Last year came across a guy who sadly lost control and died at the bend in the road at Contermanskloof's entrance. Saw another incident at the Dolphin Beach hotel on the R27 where the paramedics were attempting to resuscitate a guy using those ECG pedal magoefters. It was a sad sight. I dunno if he made it.

 

In the one incident, the accident was the guy's own fault, in the other, there were cars involved.  Yes these are motorbikes (and all that entails), but it still very graphically illustrates the risks involved, to me at least.

 

(no popcorn was consumed in the writing of this comment...)